Where Were You April 25, 1969?-- Part 3

Using Dave McAleer's Book of Hit Singles, these are some other songs in Billboard's Top Twenty for the month of April that weren't on Bob Stroud's list.

DIZZY-- TOMMY ROE-- Very underrated guy. He sure had a lot of hits.
GALVESTON-- GLEN CAMPBELL-- pickin' and cryin'

ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE-- JERRY BUTLER-- Chicago's Ice Man
TIME OF THE SEASON-- ZOMBIES-- Rod Argent and crew.

RUN AWAY CHILD, RUNNING WILD-- TEMPTATIONS-- Love that Motown.
TRACES-- CLASSICS IV--

PROUD MARY-- CCR-- My all-time favorite group.
DO YOUR THING-- WATTS 103RD STREET BAND-- And the Isley brothers had "It's Your Thing" at the top of the Chicago charts.

DON'T GIVE IN TO HIM-- GARY PUCKETT & THE UNION GAP-- He just wants one thing, girl. But, I don't and will always respect you.
INDIAN GIVER-- 1910 FRUITGUM COMPANY-- I don't care what they say, I love my Bubble Gum music.

HOT SMOKE & SASSAFRASS-- BUBBLE PUPPY-- Garage rock with a touch of psychedelic thrown in. Should have gone to #1.

A Good Year for Music. --RoadDog


Ten-year-old Alan's take on who a guy should marry: You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.

Saturday Morning Flashback Goes to 1970

Every Saturday morning, Wendy Rice hosts a four hour show on Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM, one really fine radio station. It goes from 8 am to noon. April 10th, she spotlighted 1970. Along with the tunes, you gets lots of history. It really takes you back, especially if you lived through it. Even better, for those of you outside the Chicago area, it streams over the internet.

You can even go to the website and listen to the whole show whenever you want.

Paul McCartney released his first post-Beatle solo album with the hit "Maybe I'm Amazed."

Some other songs that I liked:

ONLY YOU KNOW AND I KNOW-- DAVE MASON-- Played all the instruments himself.
ONE TOKE OVER THE LINE-- BREWER & SHIPLEY-- Wonder what they were talking about?

ALL RIGHT NOW-- FREE-- One of the great all-time rock songs. How do you get better?
MILES FROM NOWHERE-- CAT STEVENS-- What a voice, what a style.

LET IT RAIN-- ERIC CLAPTON-- I really like the guitar intro.
BALL OF CONFUSION-- TEMPTATIONS-- Sure loved that Motown Sound.

ROADHOUSE BLUES-- DOORS-- Put on the travelin' music.
MOONDANCE-- VAN MORRISON--

TAKE ME TO THE PILOT-- ELTON JOHN-- No doubt that the 70s were his decade.
NATURE'S WAY-- SPIRIT
WAR-- EDWIN STAR-- "What are you good for? Absolutely _____!!"

Notable debuts: Mary Tyler Moore Show and Monday Night Football.

Give Her Show a Listen. --RoadDog


OXYMORON: Why do tugboats push those barges?

Every Bloomin' Thing-- Early May

The sunburst honey locusts have their leaves out now and that means big time yellow which makes for a nice contrasts.

Lilacs have started to fade a bit as has the yellow perennials that put on such a nice show earlier this spring. The spreading phlox is still blooming, with the purples showing up the best, but also white and red. The tall wild phlox are just starting to bloom as are the daisies, and there are a lot of them.

The candy tufts are all white.

The last of the tulips are losing their blooms.

Most of the hostas are at size and the irises are getting ready to go to town.

Still doing lots of work on flower beds, a never-ending chore. Often I wish I hadn't made so many. It sure would be much easier just to cut the grass.

LAWN TRACTOR PROBLEMS

I was unable to cut the grass last Thursday because the good old John Deere tractor wouldn't start. There was absolutely nothing when I turned the key. Friday, I called the place I have it tuned up every year and they were going to pick it up today.

Going too long between cuttings this time of the year isn't too good of an idea. My buddy Frank suggested a jump start and it turned on. Saturday, it wouldn't turn on again, but a couple hours of trickle charge and it did.

i tried it again this morning and it started so cancelled their picking it up.

Two years ago, it needed a new battery and this past winter, they had to replace the regulator. Let's hope I have no more problems. But the tractor is getting old as I bought it in 1994.

Cut, Cut, Cut That Grass. --RoadDog


Camille, age ten, tells when is the right time to get married: Twenty-three is the best age, because you've known that person FOREVER by then.

Where Were You April 25, 1969?-- Part 2

TIME IS TIGHT-- BOOKER T. & THE MGS-- an instrumental. MGs stands for Memphis Group.
I CAN HEAR MUSIC-- BEACH BOYS--

HAIR-- COWSILLS-- The Partridge Family TV show based on them.
AQUARIUS/LET THE SUNSHINE IN-- FIFTH DIMENSION-- These last two songs from the play "Hair." Great album, even if I never got a chance to see the play.

MR. SUN MR. MOON-- PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS--
BROTHER LOVE'S TRAVELING SALVATION SHOW-- NEIL DIAMOND-- After this song you don't have to hear that sermon in church.

HAWAII FIVE-O-- VENTURES-- Dun Dun Dun Dun-- Din Dun. Go ahead and hum it.

GET BACK-- BEATLES-- 'A' side. Who'd have figured the Beatles would have ANOTHER two-sided hit?
DON'T LET ME DOWN-- BEATLES-- 'B' side.

SWEET CHERRY WINE-- TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS-- I got mighty tired of this.
THE BOXER-- SIMON & GARFUNKEL-- My second favorite S&G song after "Cecilia."

GITARZAN-- RAY STEVENS-- This guy can REALLY sing a FUNNY song.
GIMME GIMME GOOD LOVIN'-- CRAZY ELEPHANT-- A garage rock classic. "From Atlanta, Georgia to..."

IT'S YOUR THING-- ISLEY BROTHERS-- The Number 1 song in Chicago. "Do what you wanna do."

Just a "few" Memories Here. --RoadDog


OXYMORON: Why does "fat chance" and "slim chance" mean the same thing?

Where Were You April 25, 1969?-- Part 1

For the third month in a row, I didn't get to write down Bob Stroud's comments on his Rock and Roll Roots Time Warp. But, at least this time I got to listen to part of the show as we were in the Chicago suburbs for Liz's school's 100th anniversary.

April 25, 1969, I was getting ready to graduate from Palatine Township High School in Palatine, Illinois. I was enjoying Mr. Denny's Social Studies Survey Class and probably getting ready to go to prom with Liz.

I was sure happy to be leaving as sports editor of the Cutlass, the school paper.

I had already been accepted at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb.

All comments are mine.

ROCK ME-- STEPPENWOLF-- This song played all the time in the Senior Lounge at Palatine High School. Always reminds me of it.
TWENTY-FIVE MILES-- EDWIN STARR-- If you're only going to have two really big hits, this one and "War" are good choices.

THESE EYES-- GUESS WHO-- Canadian rockers.
YOU MADE ME SO VERY HAPPY-- BST-- Blue-eyed blues.

PINBALL WIZARD-- WHO-- From the Rock Opera "Tommy."
MEDICINE MAN (PART 1)-- BUCHANAN BROTHERS-- One of my favorites from this time. One-hit wonders.

Rock me All Night Long. --RoadDog


OXYMORON: Why does "slow down" and "slow up" mean the same thing?

JSS: Drinking on the Cheap

JSS-- Just Some Stuff.


1. DRINKING AND EATING ON THE CHEAP-- Tuesday and Thursday, Liz and I really ate and drank cheaply. Tuesday, we went to Mulligan's Saloon in McHenry, Illinois, on Il-31, and had their $5 sandwiches and $1 domestic bottles of beer.

Thursday, it was up to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, (named after the movie) to play NTN and we got the half-price pizza (16-inch, three-topping for $9.50) and enjoyed buy one, get one free drinks. So, our pints came to a buck.


2. GAS GOUGE-- Gas prices around here jumped13 to 17 cents on Wednesday. OK, there's that oil spill going on, but that oil wasn't even being pumped at the time. Plus, the price of oil dropped a lot this past week.. So, how come it went up so much. Could it be GRBs?


3. THAT DARN CARNIVAL-- Temps tomorrow are predicted to be a high of 50 degrees and down to 30 degrees with possible frost Sunday morning. I know what is calling all this. That carnival needs to be stopped.

Give Me Cheap Drinks and Food Anytime. --RoadDog


OXYMORON: Why do we say something's is out of whack? What is a whack?

Cruising the Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor in Illinois-- Part 3

This past Sunday, May 2nd, we spent most of the day in Towanda.

We first went to the party in the park and listened to a great local country band called Cattle Bandits who played a great variety of country songs and, of course, their version of "Get Your Kicks on Route 66."

We then went to Kicks on 66, the only business in town other than a gas station. This used to be a Route 66 gas station in an earlier life, but now is a very popular bar and grill. The place and its biergarden were packed with folks walking over from the classic car show being held on the now-closed south bound lanes of the old 66 bypass.

They are noted for their pig wings, but had run out when we go there. We had a great pulled pork and pork tenderloin sandwiches. Beer is always $2,50 a bottle for domestic.

Next, we checked out the hundred or so cars along Route 66. I especially liked a mint condition 1967 Firebird and another 1968 one.

Last and longest stop was at the Schenk's Garage. Dawn and Mark Schenk are Route 66 "Nuts" of the highest order and have converted their garage into a 66 Nirvana. They had one of the best bands we've ever seen called Hillbilly Jones. Three pieces, including a stand up base and could those guys really cook.

We'd like to thank the Schenks for inviting us when we stopped by the day before.

Drove 66 back to Gardner to pay a visit to the Riviera which we heard had reopened. It was closed, so were forced to continue into Braidwood and have a banana split at the Polka-Dot.

A really Fine Weekend. --RoadDog


OXYMORON-- If Webster wrote the first dictionary, where did he find the words?

JSS: That Nasty Carnival-- NTN in Bloomington-- That Rod Argent--

JSS-- Just Some Stuff I'be been up to.


1. THAT NASTY CARNIVAL-- If you're living in the Midwest and wondering why the weather has been so bad and unpredictable since Friday, I know the answer. That horrible Round Lake (Il) carnival is back in town. Since 1976, they have been coming and with the exception of one time, the weather has been horrendous.

It opened last weekend and runs through to this Sunday. Whoever it is that keeps having them back should stop.


2. NTN IN BLOOMINGTON-- This past weekend, we were on a Route 66 trip for the Red Carpet Corridor, a ninety mile stretch of the Mother Road from Joliet to Towanda, and played at two NTN Buzztime sites in Bloomington, Illinois: Maguire's and BW# (Buffalo Wild Wings).

They weren't new places to us though. We played at Maguire's back on our first Route 66 trip in March 2002. This is not one of your standard cookie cutter chains. Quite unique and claim to be THE PLACE FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY and with a name like that, no big surprise.

BW3 was B-Dub as usual and even more crowded because of the Kentucky Derby


3. THAT ROD ARGENT-- I am listening to WNCT 1070 AM playing Beach, Boogie and Blues right now with Allan Vick on the internet. I'm also listening to the Zombies Greatest Hits, most famous for "She's Not there," "Tell Her No" and "Time of the Season." But, their other songs are pure Second Wave British Invasion 60s music and worth a listen. Especially "Don't Cry for Me," "I Can't Make Up My Mind" and "You Make Me Feel So Good."

I didn't know that Rod Argent was the keyboardest. he later went on to found the British band Argent in 1968, along with fellow Zombies Russ Ballard and Chris White and they had the big hit "Hold Your Head Up" which went to #5 in the US.

Just Some Stuff. --RoadDog


OXYMORON-- If a word is misspelled in a dictionary, how would we ever know?

We've Got a New Crop of Baby Robins

Mr. and Mrs. Robin were actively building a nest over the past month. Almost every year they build one on the light leading out to the deck, a very protected spot. I try to scare them off and even destroy the nest, but they are quite persistent.

We're not sure if it is the same pair or even perhaps the baby robins from previous seasons. It does, however, mean that we can't use the main door we usually use to get out to the deck, but we sure have a great time watching our adopted little family.

Monday, both robins were constantly flying back and forth with worms and once I saw a head pop up. Well, actually more of wide-open beak which I think makes up most of just-hatched robins.

Yesterday, Liz was watching and saw two more beaks rising out of the nest and she got some pictures. Today, when I returned home from the movies, she had photographic evidence of a fourth beak in the nest. Last year, we only had three (and for a long time thought there was only one).

We Are Quite Proud of "Our" Babies. --RoadDog


OXYMORONS-- Why is the third hand on a watch called the second hand?

40th Anniversary of Kent State-- Part 2: NIU Got Violent

I will be continuing this story on my Cooter's History Thing Blog http://cootershistorything.blogspot.com.

I had thought that the violence at Northern Illinois University had started within a few days after Kent State. There was unrest, but the real frightening times didn't erupt until almost two weeks later.

I definitely thought I was witnessing the end of the United States at the time. I'll never forget watching the students and police clash by Lincoln Hall, where I lived, and then the explosions that took place west of the dorm by the physical plant.

Quite a Scary Time to Live Through. --RoadDog

OXYMORONS: Is it good if a vacuum really sucks?

Number 1 Songs This Date-- Part 2

1950 "The Third Man" Theme-- Anton Karas
1940 Tuxedo Junction-- Glenn Miller
1930 "Stein Song" University of Maine-- Rudy Vallee
1920 Suwanee-- Al Jolson
1910 By the Light of the Silvery Moon-- Billy Murray & Haydn Quartet
1900 When You Were Sweet Sixteen-- Jere Mahoney


RUDY VALLEE-- from Wikipedia-- Born in Vermont in 1901, died 1986. No relation of Frankie Valli of the Four Seasons. Given name Hubert Prior Vallee. Family from Quebec. His group called Connecticut Yankees. "The Stein Song" is probably his best-known song. Also did "The Drunkard Song, sometimes called "There's a Tavern in the Town."

Served in the Coast Guard in World War II.


BILLY MURRAY-- from Wikipedia-- No relation to actor Bill Murray. One of the most successful recording artists of the Acoustic Era from 1900 to 1920s. First singer to make his living solely from singing.


OFF SUBJECT, but John Lennon's lyrics to "A Day in the Life" from 1967's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album will go up for auction at Sozeby's and is expected to bring in $500,000 to $700,000.

I Just Might Have $600,000 Lying Around? --RoadDog


A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing AND the lawnmower is broken.

40th Anniversary of Kent State Today

On May 4, 1970, Ohio National Guard troops at Kent State University opened fire on an Anti-Vietnam War rally and killed four and wounded eleven others. This ignited protests and violence at college campuses all across the United States.

I was a freshman at Northern Illinois University at the time. I didn't like the war, which I thought was never going to end. It started when I was in 7th grade and went on all through high school and showed no signs of letting up. Actually it was getting worse. A few days earlier, President Nixon had announced that the US was attacking Cambodia to cut off supply routes.

This set off a new wave of protest and marches.

The war was particularly looming for males my age because of the draft. There was a lottery where every year boys turning 18 had their birthdays placed in a drum and pulled to give a number. The lower your number, the more likely you were to be drafted.

I was too young for the first lottery and was #31. I was hoping that since this was very low, I'd get a high number for when it counted. Not with my luck. I was #22. That meant go to college or Vietnam. Since I wanted to be a teacher, college was definitely already in my plans. But a lot of boys were there to avoid the draft.

To Be Continued. --RoadDog



My wife said, "Whatcha doing today?"
I said, "Nothing."
She said, "You did that yesterday."
I said, "I wasn't finished."

Just Some Interesting Stuff: MTV Loses Music-- Good Work If You Can get It-- 3d Pop

Just Some Interesting Stuff-- Interesting Tidbits


1. MTV LOSES MUSIC-- First, they stopped promoting music videos, now they have removed the words "Music television.' Too bad. I really liked that station when we got cable back in the 80s.


2. GOOD WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT-- I see that new Chicago Bear Julius peppers just bought former Bull B. J. Armstrong's 12-room, 5,923-foot home in Highland Park for $1.8 million. I guess it helps when you have a six-year $91.5 million contract. How much does a Bears ticket cost now?


3. 3D POP-- Personally, I don't like 3D and see the movies in 2D when I can, but the kids like it. It seems a whole lot of movies are in 3D these days. A look at 3D movies as a percentage of box office grosses between, 2009 to April and 2008 shows 2008 at 3.2% and today 19.1%.

Just Some Interesting Stuff. --RoadDog

Cruising the Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor in Illinois-- Part 2

Chenoa was next and we couldn't find anything at all downtown by the gazebo. Finally found Redbird Antiques and got our puzzle piece (all 12 towns had puzzle pieces you could collect) and were told it the food and entertainment had been moved to a park because a building near the Chenoa Pharmacy was in danger of collapsing into the street.

Lexington had garage sales downtown, but the main party was on Old Route 66. I finally got the pork chop sandwich I had been wanting at Chenoa along with a decent corn dog and root beer float.

Towanda had a really nice festival going on in the park with a band, food, and lots of vendors. We stopped at Schenk's Garage on the way out and Dawn told us she was having a band on Sunday and invited us.

We actually were able to follow Route 66 signage through that pesky subdivision in Normal and saw the Sprague Gas Station. Played NTN at Maguire's and Buffalo Wild Wings (where we saw the Derby). Also had a drink at Mugsy's and got a room at the Super 8. Split an order of fried onion at the nearby Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon.

A Pretty Good Day on the Road. --RoadDog

Number One Songs This Date-- Part 1

From Josh Hosler's website.

Number one songs according to Billboard for May 3rd, through the years.

2009 Boom Boom Pow-- Black Eyed Peas-- These guys are hot, well, two guys and a girl.
2000 Maria Maria-- Santana
1990 Nothing Compares to You-- Sinead O'Connor-- Talking about making somebody else's song your own!!
1980 Call Me-- Blondie

1979 Reunited-- Peaches & Herb
1978 Night Fever-- Bee Gees-- How high can you disco?
1977 Hotel California-- Eagles-- Couldn't avoid this song even if you wanted to.
1976 Welcome Back-- Jon Sebastian-- Vinny and the rest of the Sweathogs.

1975 He Don't Love You (Like I Do)-- Tony Orlando & Dawn
1974 Loco-Motion-- GFR
1973 Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree-- Tony Orlando & Dawn-- Their decade.

1972 The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face-- Roberta Flack
1971 Joy to the World-- Three Dog Night-- What was the name of that bullfrog.
1970 American Woman/No Sugar Tonight-- Guess Who

1960 Stuck on You-- Elvis Presley-- One of my fav Elv songs.

Can't Get Jeremiah Out of My Head. --RoadDog

Cruising the Route 66 Red Carpet in Illinois-- Part 1

Yesterday, Liz and I took a drive south along Illinois Highway 47 to the 4th Annual Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival taking place in four towns from Joliet to Towanda, a total of 12 communities.

We first drove around Woodstock to look at the ruins of Grace Hall, the historic square where a farmers' market was going on, and various "Groundhog Day" movie sites along with the half mile of blooming lilac bushes along Lake Street.

We arrived in Dwight, out first Route 66 town and got to go into the Becker Gas Station for the first time. It was in bad shape, but the town has since preserved it and turned it into a tourist office. It was closed when we first started 66in' and always closed the last several years.

Then, we went to the Standard station in Odell and to Pontiac where we toured the 66 Museum and had out first trip to the new Walldogs Museum on the square. There was a carnival going on in the square as well as vendors. We had our first-ever "Walking Taco" from the Pontiac Lions Club.

More to Come. --RoadDog

Drive's A to Z Update-- It's All Over

Sad to see, but knew it was coming. All good things must end and this great mass of songs is over until the next time.

Yesterday, Bobby Skafish played "Zoo" by the Scorpions and at 4:58, it was over. The next-to-last song was "Ziggy Stardust" by David Bowie. There were no letter "X" songs.


THE DRIVE'S "WILD" SONGS

Wild Horses-- Rolling Stones
Wild Night-- Van Morrison
Wild Thing-- Troggs
Wild Wild Life-- Talking Heads
Wild World-- Cat Stevens
Wildest Dreams-- Asia
Wildfire-- Michael Martin

There were 24 songs beginning with the word "You" starting with "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" by BTO and ending with "You Wreck Me" by Tom Petty.

It all began April 22nd when Bobby Skafish played "Abacab" by Genesis.

Sure Gonna Miss It. --RoadDog

The Carnival Strikes Again

Call it a curse or a coincidence, but yesterday we had powerful storms come through the area and, the Round Lake spring carnival opened. For the past 34 years, with one exception, this event has brought on the horrible weather.

Yesterday, Liz and I driove into Round Lake Beach for our dentist appointments. While she was in the chair, I drove over to our insurance agent to pay some car premiums. Inside, I saw a poster for the carnival and uttered, "Oh, no!" The agent said, "Right, the carnival has come to town. You know what that means."

This curse dates back to 1976 when I was a Round Lake Jaycee and we were sponsoring the carnival. I had to man a ticket booth and drove to it. It was a perfect day in April with temps in the upper 70s and sun. Within an hour, temps had dropped 30 degrees and a stiff north wind and clouds made it miserable to be in that booth.

Ever since them, with one exception, we have had horrible and lousy weather whenever that confounded thing has showed up. Most people also know of the curse.

So, if the rest of this weekend turns out bad, you know the reason why. And, i should add, the carnival is still in town next weekend, so, don't be surprised.

Hate That Old Carnival. --RoadDog